Gonzalo Cortés – Thurs. Jan 27, 7 PM
at the Tunxis College Campus
Latin Spirits:
Gonzalo Cortés – flutes, Quena, Sikus more>>>
Jessica Heller – viola
Lorena Garay – guitar,venezuelan cuatro
Program: A Journey Through Latin American Music
In this concert we will travel through the musical soul of Latin America remembering and discovering the music of this rich continent.
Entre’ act Jacques Ibert
Bachianas #5 Aria Heitor Villalobos (Brazil)
Black Orfeo (Manha de Carnaval) Luis Bonfa (Brazil)
Tico Tico No Fuba (Choro) Zequinha Abreu (Brazil)
Alfonsina y el Mar Ariel Ramirez (Argentina)
Pajaro Chogui-Galopera Folklore from Paraguay
Yamor Folklore from Ecuador
Mapuches Violeta Parra (Chile)
Voy Hacer un Cigarrito Victor Jara (Chile)
Cafe 1930 Astor Piazzolla (Argentina)
Night Club 1960 Astor Piazzolla (Argentina)
Alma Llanera Venezuela
Llanera Puerto Rico
El Cumbanchero Puerto Rico
El Derecho de Vivir en Paz Victor Jara (Chile)
Latin Spirits is an ensemble composed by three of the finest musicians in Connecticut.
Gonzalo Cortés, a native of Chile was formerly Principal Flute of the Classical Orchestra of Santiago, Chile. He studied with Alberto Harms and Robert Langevin, Principal Flute, New York Philharmonic. As a soloist and orchestral musician he has toured South America and the USA with different ensembles such as the Simon Bolivar Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Chile, Classical Orchestra of Santiago and the Symphony of South East Texas and has performed at numerous festivals such as the Orford Arts Centre’s Academy of Music in Canada, Primer Festival International de Flauta in Rio de Janeiro, the Western Slope Music Festival in Crested Butte, Colorado and Frutillar, Chile, among others. In addition to Mr. Cortés’ classical training pursuit, he is a
proponent of World Music particularly flutes from around the world. He has recorded with the internationally acclaimed Chilean folk group Inti-Illimani as well as the Choral Arts Society of Washington, DC for the Naxos label. In 2006, Gonzalo released his CD, Valle, featuring an amazing collection of original music composed and performed by Mr. Cortes. He has also performed at the Tereza Carreño Thearer in Venezuela, the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. and the Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival at the
Hillstead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut among others and was invited to travel abroad and play as a soloist with the Classical Orchestra of Santiago, Chile. Currently he teaches flute at Miss Porter’s School, the University of Connecticut Community School of the Arts and is celebrating his third year of the highly anticipated Gonzalo Cortés Concert Series. He is the founder and artistic director of Latin Spirits, Duo Del Sur and Arrau Chamber Ensemble. You can find him on the web at www.gonzalo-cortes.com.
Jessica Heller, a native of Connecticut, began studying the viola at the age of seven and she grew up attending the Hartt School Community Division. She went on to study at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh with maestro Joen Vasquez, assistant principal of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, graduating with a degree in both Viola Performance and Recording Engineering.
In her final year at Duquesne, Ms. Heller won a viola position with the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and shortly after, won a substitute position with the Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra. She has also performed alongside the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, Erie Philharmonic, Western Slope Festival Orchestra, Classical Orchestra of Santiago, New Britain Symphony and can currently be seen performing with the Connecticut Virtuosi Orchestra. Ms. Heller has attended numerous music festivals including the Western Slope Music Festival in Colorado and the Sunflower Festival in Kansas. She has played in Masterclasses for Maestros such as Donald McInnis. Currently, Jessica lives with her family in central Connecticut. She performs in the greater Connecticut area, including at the Sunken Garden Poetry and Music Festival at the Hillstead Museum in Farmington, Connecticut, St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, as well as around the United States and teaches viola and violin at the Elmwood Community Center in West Hartford, Connecticut and privately in Farmington, Connecticut.
Lorena Garay, a native of Puerto Rico, plays guitar music that reflects her unique background – her roots in Latin music and her formal training in classical guitar with a Master of Music degree Summa Cum Laude from The Hartt School of Music and a Bachelor of Music degree Summa Cum Laude from the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.
Lorena’s guitar arrangements and passionate playing style beautifully blend the classical influence with her Latin sound. This is a unique feature of her style. Her repertoire includes original arrangements of: Afro-Caribbean, Latin American, Andean, Brazilian, Spanish and Flamenco guitar. Lorena also composes broadcast quality Latin music for use in television.
Lorena has received numerous awards and has two recordings available: “La Guitarra de Puerto Rico” and “Surcari”, a 2009 Just Plain Folks Music Awards Album Nominee in the genre of South and Central American Album. She has traveled all along the U.S. east coast and Puerto Rico performing, both as a soloist and a multi-instrumentalist,in various musical groups including Surcari. Please visit www.lorenagaray.com for more information.
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Welcome to Virtuosi Music Academy.
Our music school is located in Farmington, CT and collaborates with Tunxis Community College. We offer many programs for different age groups (4y/o to Adult) in Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Music Theory, Group lessons for beginners and Chamber Music Coaching. In the effort to gather and help the young talent in and around the state, we have created the” Tuition Free Program”for students junior to senior year in High School. This program is by Audition only and the students that are selected get to study at the academy for one year tuition free. To apply or support this program please contact us by phone or simply sign up on our email list and leave a comment. The Faculty of our Music School consists of exceptional musicians of the Connecticut Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra and other prominent artist from around the state. Virtuosi Music Academy presents a series of Chamber Music Concerts featuring international artists as well as our Faculty members. To learn more about the series, please visit the link http://academy.thevirtuosi.org/music-school-concerts/. To register for lessons at our music school call (860) 944-0423 or e mail at virtuosiacademy@yahoo.om
